van rensselaer



A. VAN RENSSE-LAE-R.

v CONTAIN-ER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. IT, 1920- 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Reissued May 2,1922.

INVENTOR. 4/4 k4 iiemsse/aexg.

A TTORNEYfl A. VAN RENSSELAER. v

CONTAINER.

APPLICATIONHLED NOV.1T. 1920.

Reissued May 2, 1922. 154,347.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

. INVENTOR. 67/612 Val? FPerzsse/aer;

BY a

ATToRNEm uni-Isa smiles Patent mime ALLEN vim RENss Ii Em; on-nos 'ALN'GEBES, CALIFGRNIA;

CONTAIN EBL;

Specification of Reissued Letters Patent.

Reissued-llay 2; 1922.

Original No. 1,285,383, datedNjovember-lfl, 191 8,iSeria1 N o.,.18"7,153; filed, Aug ist 20,.1917. Application ion reissuefiled november 1'2, 1920.. Serial N o. 42jL,f797.

To. all whom it may concern:

Be itknown thatL A aNi VAN Rmzssnmel -a citizen of they United States, residing; atLos Angeles,intheeountyoil os An- .geles andfitate 0f Galifornia, haveinvented a certain new and useiullniprovement in Containers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is particularly adapted for the storing of gasoline or lightoils under water.

Anobjegt, ofiny, invention is tohprovicle means for,storing such oils under pressure.

My invent-ion. comprises. a. container di vided by a. p artition into a lower and upper chamber, the oil to be stored beingcarried inithe, haven-chamber and the upper chamher being USQd ;as a Water, reservoir.

Anobjectof my invention is.,to regulate the amount, 0d. water' in ,said up-per chamber to maintain a substantial equilibrium of pressures on saidpartition- Further objects, and advantages. will: be madeevident. hereina-iter Referring to the drawing. which is, for illustrative. purposes only,

Fig. 1- isa planviewof,oneiol'rn of my invention.

Fig; 2 is; a section on a. plane indicated by; tlie,. line; 2T2, of, Big. 1. witl thelower .chalnl'ier, filled with, water. and prepared to reeeive, theoil .stored t. Fig, 34.is,a. view. with thelower chamber partially filled with ,oil.

Fig. 4 is a section; through one embodia Qf re ul t n rv e- Fig, 51,. is, a seetion througl l one, embodimente e rfioati v ver ndiF g 6 siaivi vat ii-gl t ana .stot ligr f he ame alv In ,these figures, l indicatesa basin, which may. consistofthe lower, and relatively. small pprtionBjiandthenpper and relatively large iortionB; Theforinzof basin 1 shown need wt ne sseri yheadband n, eing: mply a enient andy con mie l. p pe Mead r m, any QI -EQQ Q a r l p y y which-the basin Inayfille this; pipe be.- ingprovided-with, aivalveifi. 1 The. container may. consist of acylindrical; shell 7 wh ch .is naced mmf h 'o t m 0f: h a in. y meansi iblecke 1.

. i rtition 9' divides th mes of, the

OQILWAQA mtomi -11 F 2 hamb r; -0 and; a 91W hex ben-l c s, as a, o age ,to be hereinafter explained ;is located =,in the upper chamber The liquidto be stored is introduced into the, lower chamber;- through 21; pipe, 17 controlled by a valve l8. and this liquldmay be withdrawn, throughthepipe 191whieh is provided with a valve. 20. A gas voutlet pipe. 21 havinga (valve. 22 is providechfor discharging air or, gas from the lower chamber 11 of the. container.

The. float valve IZmaybe, of any conven ientiform, that shown in Figs. 5 and fibeing one, commonly employed for this purpose.

In the; form shown in this, drawing, a cast- 3,0 is secured tovthe partition .9, thiScast mg teririinatingin a valve seat, 3l on whieh a valveflfl maybe seated, The; valve, 32 is carried :i v valve, stem-1 3? ,which is p pvided with guides 3,4, and- 35,. r A pin 35 .in the valve, stern33. is engage clvby, aslot ina layer 3'1 pivoted (1.15.38 on abraolget 39,, this lever. being I operated ,by. a float. 4:0,, The float 'valve- 12 operates to. close the.) opening through the. casting 30 whenever,there is siifi iicient liquidin the upper, chamber of the container, to raise. the. float. 4 d; Elo at valves of this type are ,in common, ,useiand .the specifiov construction thereof 1 is; therefore, portant.

The pressure reliefvalve lG is, also in-cornn on .use and is illustrated in Eig, 4 in which a oasting 50 :is secured to the: partition ,9 ,by rivets; 51 this: casting 50., haying diaphragm 52 .seei red thereto in. gastight relationshipby aiflDSofaJr-hg liina ndflholts 54.

Secured tp the of the. diaphragm 52 ;is avalve stem, 55 ,which, isnomhally, pressed pw rdly w h, v ir, a i ve y, li ht pre u y 'riea s eun er flght' WW ried onan ap n 5:7 pivotedon a braek et 5 8.

Thevalve stem 55 extends.npwardlyjnto the interior 'of a ,valve body, 60, theflstem 55 a} v nafi l s ends wenhi h- W 111 p ningsfi rm d n: a parti q ifii a h valve body 6Q.- Water mambe a dir itted to fact that the float valve 12 is open.

the interiorof the valve body through an inlet opening 65, this water passing through the openings 63 when the valves 61 and 62 are unseated and outwardly through a pipe 66 through the wall 7 of the container. Whenever the pressure on the under side of the roof 9 is substantially equal to the pressure on the top of this roof, the valves 61 and 62 are held seated by the weight 56. henever for any reason the pressure on the top of the container exceeds that underneath by a certain predetermined amount, this pressure acting through holes 67 011 the top of the diaphragm 52 forces this diaphragm down and unseats the valve 61 and 62 allowing water to escape from the chamber 10.

The method of operation of the embodiment of my invention shown is as follows:

The basin 1' being filled with water, this water rises inside the container due to Itiqe e basin being filled with water to the level shown in Fig. 2, the container is ready to receive the charge of oil or gasoline. To fill the lower chamber with oil or gasoline, the pump 13 is started so there is a constant stream of water flowing into the upper chamber. As soon as suflicient water accumulates on the partition 9 to over-balance the pressure on'the under side of this roof, the pressure relief valve 16 opens and this water is allowed to discharge into the basin 1. The float valve 12 being closed due to the presence of water in the upper chamber of the container, oil or gasoline may be in troduced through the pipe 17, this oil or gasoline being lighter than the water collects under the partition 9 and forces water out of the container into the basin 1. As the water rises in the basin 1, pressure on the under side of the partition 9 increases but this increase in pressure is compensated for by the water introduced through the pipe 15. The pump 13 must, of course have great enough capacity to supply suflicient water to the upper chamber to compensate for this increase in hydrostatic head. The oil or gasoline is forced into the lower chamber 11 until such a time as the chamber is wholly or partially filled. and during this time the pressure relief valve 16 in combination with the pump 13 maintains a substantial balance of pressures on either side of the partition 9. When there is any quantity of stored .liquid in the lower chamber 11, the level. of

liquid in the upper chamber 10 must be higher than the level of the water in the basin due to the natural tendency of light oils'to float in water. This tendency must be counteracted by the water in the upper ch'amber if the pressures on the partition are to be substantially equalized. Oil may be withdrawn from the lower chamber. 11

through the pipe 19, water flowing in through the bottom of the container to displace the oil. Whenever oil is so withdrawn, the pressure on the under side of the partition 9 decreases and the valve 16 opens and compensates therefor.

It will be noted that. by entirely submerging the oil or gasoline in a body of water, I am able to entirely eliminate many of the fire risks now found in storing such materials and particularly I am able to eliminate all danger of fires due to lightning. I am also able to practically eliminate all evaporation. By the peculiar construction adopted I am able to make tanks of very thin material as the pressure on the partition 9 is'at all times equalized, and it need not withstand any appreciable pressures.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a container the combination of, a partition dividing said container into a lower chamber and anupper chamber; means for supplying liquid under pressure to said lower chamber; and means influenced by pressure for regulating the amount of liquid in said upper chamber to maintain a predetermined difference in pressure on either sideof said partition.

2. In a container the combination of, a partition dividing said container into a lower chamber and an upper chamber; means for supplying liquid under pressure to i said lower chamber; and means influenced by pressure for allowing liquid to flow from said upper chamber to compensate for changes in the pressure on the under .surface of said partition.

3. In a container the combination of, a partition dividing said container into a lower chamber and an upper chamber; "means for supplying liquid under pressure to said lower chamber; a pipe supplying liquid at a substantially uniform rate to said upper chamber; and means for allowing liquid to flow from said upper chamber to compensate for changes in the, pressure on the under surface of said partition.

4. In a container the combination or,- a partition dividing said container into a lower chamber and an upper chamber; means for supplying liquid under pressure to said lower chamber; a pipe supplying liquid to said upper chamber; a pressure relief valve;- and means for opening said valve whenever the pressure on the top of. said partition exceeds the pressure on .the under surface of said partition by a predetermined amount.

A. container the combination of; a basin in which said containeris placed, said container having an opening in the bottom thereof; a partition dividing said container into a lower chamber and an upper chamber; means for supplying liquid under pressure to said lower chamber; means for supplying liquid to said upper chamber; and means for allowing liquid to flow from said upper chamber-intosaid basin whenever-the pressure:on the under side of said part-itionubecomes: less; than thepressure on the top thereof.

6. In a liquid storage plant, the combination of a container; a partition in said container dividing said container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; av pipe supplying liquid at a substantially constant rate to said upper chamber; a pipe supplying liquid to. said lower-chamber; a pipe for withdrawing liquid from the top of said lower chamber; means for allowing gas and air to escape from said lower chamber; a pressure relief valve closing an opening through which liquid may escape from the upper chamber to the space outside the container; pressure operated means open on one side to; the pressure of the upperschambe-r and open on the other side to the pressure of the lower chamber; and means by. which said pressure operated meansunseatszsaid valve whenever the pressure in the upper chamber exceedsa certain ratio to the pressure. in. the lower chamber.

7. In..a container, the combination. of a basin; a container. in; said basin having. an opening in its lower portion providing afree fluidpassage betweensaid basin and-said container; a partition in saidzcontainer dividing said container into an upper chamber and. a lower" chamber; a pipe; delivering liquid to said upperchamber; pipe means for supplying. and ,wit;hdrawing the liquid stored in. the lower chamber;-a;pressure relief valve closing :11} opening through which liquid may: escape fromtha upper chamber to the. space outside-the container; a pressure operated means open on one side to, the pressure-ofthe-upper chamber and open on the other-side;to the pressure 01 the lower chamber; andf-meansby which said pressure operated means unseats said valve wheneventhe' pressure; in the upper chamber exceeds a certain ratio to the pressure in the lower chamber.

8. In a container the combination of a basin; a container in said basin having an opening in its lower portion providing a free fluid passage between said basin and said container; a partition in said container dividing said container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; a pipe delivering liquid to said upper chamber; pipe means for supplying and withdrawing the liquid stored in said lower chamber; means for allowing gas and air to escape from said lower chamber; a pressure relief valve closing an opening through which liquid may escape from the upper chamber to the space outside the container; a pressure operated means open on one side to the pressure of the upper chamber and open on the other side to the pressure of the lower chamber; and means by which said pressure operated mean unseats said valve whenever the pres sureein the upper chamber exceeds a certain ratioto the pressure in the lower chamber.

9. In a liquid storage plant, the. combination of a container; a partition in. said container dividing said container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; a pipe delivering liquid to said upper chamber; pipe means for supplying and withdrawing, the liquid stored in said lower chamber; a presssure relief valve closing an opening through which liquid may escape from the upper chamber to the spaceoutside the container; a pressure operated means open on one side to the pressure of the upper chamber and open. on the other side to the pressure of the lower chamber; and means by which said pressure operated means unseats said valve whenever the pressure in the upper chamber exceeds a certain ratio to the pressure in the lower chamber.

10. In a liquid torage plant the combination of a container; a partition in said container-dividing said container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber; a pipe delivering liquid to said upper chamber; pipe means for supplying and withdrawing the liquidstoredin said lower chamber; means for allowing. gas and air to escape from said lowerchamber; a pressurerelief valve closinganopening-through which liquid-may escape from the upper chamber to. the. space out-side the container; a pressure operated means open on one side to the pressure. of the upper chamber and open on the other side; to the pressure of the lower chamber; and .means by which said pressure operated means unseats said valve wheneverthe pressure in the. upper chamber exceeds acertain ratio to the pressure in the lower chamber. .105

11. Ilia container a partition. dividing said-:containerinte a lower chamber and an upperg chamber means. for supplying. liquid undfil" pressure to said lower. chamber; and

means influenced by pressure for automati- 110 cally regulating the amount of liquid in said upper chamber to maintain a predetermined difference in pressure on either side oft-said partition.

12. In a container, a partition dividing said container into a lower chamber and an upper chamber; means for supplying liquid under pressure to said lower chamber; and means influenced by pressure for automatically allowing liquid to flow from said upper chamber to compensate for changes in the pressure on the under surface of said partition.

13. In a container, the combination of a basin; a container in said basin; a partition in said container dividing said container into an upper and a submerged lower chamher; said container having an opening therein providing a free fluid passage between said basin and said lower submerged chamber; and means influenced by pressure of obtaining and maintaining a predetermined difference in pressure on either side of said partition.

14:. In a container, the combination of a basin; a container in said "basin; a partition in said container dividing said container into an upper and a submerged lower chamber, said container having an opening therein providing a free fluid passage between said basin and said lower submerged chamber; and means influenced by pressure of obtaining and maintaining a definite predetermined excess of unit pressure on the upper side of said partition.

15. In a container, the combination of a partition dividing the container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber being subjected to a variable pressure in the normal operation of the container; and automatic means influenced by pressure for regulating the volume of a body of liquid in said upper chamber to compensate for said changes in pressure in said lower chamber and thus maintain a substantial equality of pressure on the two sides of said partition.

16. In a container, the combination of a partition dividing the container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber being subjected to a variable pressure in the normal operation of the container; pipe and valve means for regulating the volume of a liquid carried in said upper chamber; and pressure actuated means for so actuating said means as to maintain a practially constant difference in pressure on the two sides of said partition.

17 In a container, the combination of a partition dividing the container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber being subjected to a variable pressure in the normal operation of the container; a valve for regulating the volume partition dividing the container into an.

upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber being subjected to a variable pressure in the normal operation of the container; a valve for regulating the volume of a liquid carried in said upper chamber to compensate for said changes in pressure in said lower chamber and thus maintain a substantially constant difi'erence in pressure hetweenthe two sides of said partition; a pressure actuated member open on one side to the pressure in said lower chamber and on the other side to the pressure of said liquid; and means by which said member actuates said valve.

19. In a container, the combination of 'a partition dividing the container into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, said lower chamber being subjected to a variable pressure in the normal operation of the container; a valve for regulating the volume of a liquid carried in said upper chamber to compensate for said changes in pressure in said lower chamber and thus maintain a substantially constant difference in pressure between the two sides of said partition; a diaphram member open on one side to the pressure in said lower chamber and on the other side to the pressure of said liquid; and means by which said member actuates said valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 8th day of November 1920, at Los Angeles, California.

ALLEN VAN RENSSELAER. 

